Animal Studies of Attachment - Harlow (1959) Flashcards
What did Harlow seek to demonstrate?
That mother love (attachment) was not based on the feeding bond between mother and infant as predicted y the learning theory.
During the procedure, what did Harlow create (make)?
Two wire ‘mother’ monkeys, each with a different head.
What was the difference between the wire monkeys?
One was covered in cloth and the other was made from barbed wire.
How many monkeys were studied?
8.
What type of monkey was studied?
Infant rhesus monkeys.
How long were the 8 infant rhesus monkeys studied for?
165 days.
What did four monkeys experience differently to the other four?
For four of the monkeys, the milk bottle was on the cloth-covered ‘mother’ and for the other four, it was on the wire ‘mother’.
What were measurements taken of?
How long the infants spent with each ‘mother’.
What were observations made of?
The infant monkeys responses when frightened by a mechanical teddy bear.
What were the findings in terms of time spent with each ‘mother’?
All eight monkeys spent most of their time with the cloth-covered ‘mother’ whether or notches ‘mother’ had the feeding bottle.
What were the findings in terms of time spent with the wire ‘mother’ if this ‘mother’ held the feeing bottle?
They only spent enough time to feed then returned to the cloth ‘mother’.
What were the findings in terms of the reaction of the infants when they were frightened?
All the monkeys clung to the cloth ‘mother’.
What were the findings in terms of the reaction of the infants when they were playing with new objects?
They all kept one foot on the cloth ‘mother’ for reassurance.
What did the findings suggest?
That infants form attachments with the person offering comfort rather than the person who feeds them.
What was the first long-lasting effect that Harlow noted?
The monkeys grew up to be socially abnormal (froze or fled when approached by other monkeys)
What was the second long-lasting effect that Harlow noted?
They monkeys were sexually abnormal (they did not show normal breeding behaviour or cuddle their own young.
What did Harlow note about the critical period?
Having more that six months with the wire monkey was something they appeared not not be able to recover from, however if they spent time with their monkey ‘peers’ they seemed to recover if the happened before they were three months old.
